This is your Glass Canon Build. This build is very useful in Dungeons and WvW. It can also be used in sPvP but I would tweak a few things first.

The build relies on your Crit/Power/Precision.

You will want to be shattering as much as possible and kiting as well. Keep your distance with this build but also know when to port in and Blurred Frenzy the crap out of your enemies! Some people might bag on this in Dungeons for lack of toughness however the Mesmer is BUILT on the idea of mitigating damage via blurred frenzy, distortion, and various other blinks. So if you do your job you will not go down and will do maximum Damage.

This is your sPvP Shatter Damage build. You average 18k life, it gives you good utility for getting people off points or from downing your friends with the greatsword, while letting you generate lots of clones and defend yourself with the sword sword combo. You are semi tanky in this build and focusing on shattering for main DPS.

The ULTIMATE sPVP build for Phantasms. Phatasms were long thought a dead art after the patch that made them semi useless. Well it turns out with the right minor and major traits combined they can be lethal! This is a trade secret and I hate giving it away because it is just THAT good. It does the SAME dps if not more than the Shatter build. However, it lets you stay away from the battle and have your phantasms do the dirty work. The secret is in the Chaos Tree: Illusionary Membrane. Gain protection when you gain regen. You want to stand as close to or near your Phantasms for this build. It makes you a TANK. You usually stay next to your iduelist so you don't have to run around. You also get the utility to stop most finishers with your pistol stun. With your Phantasms on top of them by the time they go to do it again they have to run and your buddy is up.

The second unknown secret is use your defensive blocks as DPS. Your off hand sword and your sceptor both have blocks. They can crit for up to 3k!

You do NOT shatter in this build unless you are going for a final finish and need to. But they are better to you UP than down.

Your conditions are also ticking during all of this. It is really the ultimate mind fuck spec.

This thing hits like a TRUCK. Try it to see

This build CAN be used in Dungeons, but isn't recommended because a huge part of your utility/damage is the blocks. You also need clones to die to apply conditions.

UPDATE: Due to Patch Blade Training vs Desperate Decoy is a great utility it cools down all your sword sword skills WAY faster.

PvE: This is your SUPPORT THE TEAM mitigate the damage that they take back onto the enemy Confusion Dungeon Build.
The idea behind this is simple, constantly stack confusion on the bosses while buffing your team with your torch and staff abilities. You shatter as much as you want here, but don't need to focus on it that hard. If you notice the Illusions tree, it makes all your glamour skills cause confusion and blindness. Really good for keeping your enemies from hurting your team. That with the second block ability on your scepter you can keep them from hitting a large majority of the time. Just dbl tap #2 on your scepter for the blind.

The sPvP version of the confusion build. I cannot really tell you if it works other than what I have seen since the combat logs LACK for confusion damage. This thing is great in groups and only on SOME maps in sPvP. It relies heavily on your glamour abilities.

How to play this build? Create 3 clones though whatever build you please, then shatter them. Your primary source of clones is via dodges, then using weapon skills as a secondary, the staff 2 skill is great for that. Immediately shatter them with the F2 for 6 stacks of confusion. Exhaust any illusion skills on your current weapon selections and swap (dodge before you swap weapons if you already have a bar), dodge to exhaust stamina, get to 3 stacks, shatter and repeat. When Your F2 and F3 are on 20+ recharge it's time to consider using signet of illiusions, as they have the longest cooldowns. Prioritize your F2 for max damage on a condition damage build. Even with the signet, your shatter skills will run dry after any decent champion boss fight. Use this downtime time to get your phantasms out and let them get some good hits in, before you shatter. I do NOT use F4 as it doesn't deal damage or cause confusion.

Combine the inspiration 'shatters grant vigor' trait and combine that sigils of stamina. Whenever you swap weapons you will immediately get 50-100% full stamina. Not only does this grant a LOT of survivability due to the amount of time you spend evading, you also have so many clones produced that your shatters time out. Hence adding signet of illusions.

Now, because of the illusions minor trait 'illusionary retribution', every shatter is producing 3 stacks of AoE confusion in addition to all other sources. As an added side bonus, for whatever reason in PvE, you lose monster aggro incredibly quickly, making this build incredibly tanky. In WvW the amount of combat 'noise' you create means that you opponent needs a high level of skill to even target the real you. I often substitute decoy for signet of illusions in WvW for extra 'noise'.

First up, this is an excellent post, and I thank you for taking the time and effort to write it all down. It's often helpful to clarify my own thoughts by bouncing them off someone else.

I disagree with you on the confusion build. I used to like the Chaos explosive clones until I looked at it more closely - the trait does not apply unless clones are destroyed, not shattered. If you want this trait to be useful, you MUST use melee range illusions so enemies are in the AoE when they die.

Next, and I realize I've said this before, I think you should return to the dueling 'deceptive evasion' biuild. Combine the inspiration 'shatters grant vigor' trait and combine that sigils of stamina. Whenever you swap weapons you will immediately get 50-100% full stamina. Not only does this grant a LOT of survivability due to the amount of time you spend evading, you also have so many clones produced that your shatters time out. Hence adding signet of illusions.

Now, because of the illusions minor trait 'illusionary retribution', every shatter is producing 3 stacks of AoE confusion in addition to all other sources. As an added side bonus, for whatever reason in PvE, you lose monster aggro incredibly quickly, making this build incredibly tanky. In WvW the amount of combat 'noise' you create means that you opponent needs a high level of skill to even target the real you. I often substitute decoy for signet of illusions in WvW for extra 'noise'.

How to play this build? Create 3 clones though whatever build you please, then shatter them. Your primary source of clones is via dodges, then using weapon skills as a secondary, the staff 2 skill is great for that. Immediately shatter them with the F2 for 6 stacks of confusion. Exhaust any illusion skills on your current weapon selections and swap (dodge before you swap weapons if you already have a bar), dodge to exhaust stamina, get to 3 stacks, shatter and repeat. When Your F2 and F3 are on 20+ recharge it's time to consider using signet of illiusions, as they have the longest cooldowns. Prioritize your F2 for max damage on a condition damage build. Even with the signet, your shatter skills will run dry after any decent champion boss fight. Use this downtime time to get your phantasms out and let them get some good hits in, before you shatter. I do NOT use F4 as it doesn't deal damage or cause confusion.

TLDR:
Stamina can be an offensive resource for mesmers with the right traits and sigils. Use it.

Finally, a quick question on your DPS/Shatter build: I've been thinking of a similar build, but why greatsword over anything else? And why not use stamina runes for extra clones?

Finally, a quick question on your DPS/Shatter build: I've been thinking of a similar build, but why greatsword over anything else? And why not use stamina runes for extra clones?

I switch between Stamina runes and Might stacks. Depends on the boss.
Greatsword is the most constant damage we have and the further we are AMEN the more damage. Plus we can do aoe and knockback. Best Damage overall.

Also Im adding your build to the list. Thanks for posting it. Was waiting for ya

Excellent writeup. I've recently switched from a confusion build to a build I found on #taugrim.coml# that focuses on keeping illusions up and maxing out their damage. Could I hear your takes on it? I really enjoy it, but I'd like to hear any changes you think? I'm using the Hot Join/sPvP specific build.

My first thought on the build is 'inefficient' and go as far as to suggest the creator needs more experience in building. This build isn't sure what it wants to do - it's focused generically on 'illusions' yet each type of illusion, clone and phantasm, work differently (except for shatter). Traits aren't just major and minor traits, they're critical stat boosts. Throwing them all over the place to get the major traits you want messes up your attributes. Generalist builds are generally inferior. They have neither the offensive power of a specialist nor the defensive mantle of a tanky build...and they get beaten by both.

Clones don't deal direct damage, so domination +15% damage is useless for them. A lot of clones are being created by the dodging dueling trait, but the build is at it's best when the illusions are in play without being shattered.

Runes of divinity? The mark of an unoriginal mind. I chose Pack runes to buff your allies and phantasms.

Yes, the regen/protection combo can be a powerful choice when combined, but there's no dedication to boon duration or healing power.

Excellent writeup. I've recently switched from a confusion build to a build I found on #taugrim.coml# that focuses on keeping illusions up and maxing out their damage. Could I hear your takes on it? I really enjoy it, but I'd like to hear any changes you think? I'm using the Hot Join/sPvP specific build.

I don't find the GS to be viable in that build it is a waste of a phantasm and weapon. The great sword is great with Power where as this build is all about precision and crit.